MINISTRY UPDATES AT FIRST PRES
(Updated 03/04/21)
With the governor announcing a new executive order on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, effectively removing all county mask mandates and lifting restrictions on businesses, your session has made the following decisions regarding our two Sunday worship services:
8:30 WORSHIP
- Restrictions will be lifted.
- Masks will not be required.
- If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, you are encouraged to do so.
- If you have children who need nursery (ages 0-2) or childcare (ages 3-5), you must pre-register them.
11:00 WORSHIP
- Restrictions will remain in place.
- We will limit our seating to 50% capacity (150 people).
- Masks will not be required for everyone.
- We will have a special section available for those who prefer to be masked (please indicate this in your pre-registration and let the deacons know when you arrive and they can seat you in that section).
- You must pre-register for worship to help us comply with this limited capacity. Our registration limit will be 130 to accommodate the number of staff and volunteers required for that service.
- If you have children who need nursery (ages 0-2) or childcare (ages 3-5), you must pre-register them.
- Seating will be first-come, first-serve.
- Social distancing will be practiced by limiting the number of attendees to 50% capacity or less and pew spacing.
ONLINE WORSHIP
- We will continue to livestream both worship services on our website, Vimeo and Facebook.
- For those who cannot access the Internet, we will continue to deliver DVDs.
- If you are not comfortable with either of these “live” worship options, our session and pastors are happy to arrange home visits and communion. Please let your shepherd know you’d like some “face time” if you feel the need to stay away until things settle more.
(Our Lenten Wednesday worship will follow the same restrictions as the 11:00 worship services.)
PRE-REGISTRATION FOR SUNDAY SERVICES
For 8:30 worship, you do not need to pre-register for attendance. However, if you have children who need nursery (ages 0-2) or childcare (ages 3-5), please pre-register at the link below.
For 11:00 worship, you will be required to pre-register for attendance and if you have children who need nursery (ages 0-2) or childcare (ages 3-5). In your attendance pre-registration, please indicate if you wish to be seated in a section with others who prefer to wear masks.
WORSHIP FOR APRIL 25
We will livestream our 8:30 AM (contemporary) and 11:00 AM (traditional) worship services. If you are unable to tune in, we will archive the service approximately 30-45 minutes after it ends and it will be available below. Download all of our weekly worship resources below (if you are not seeing the current week’s resources, please refresh your browser).
FAMILY VBS – JUNE 6-10, 2021
On the evenings of June 6-10, we will be hosting WILDERNESS ESCAPE – FAMILY VBS 2021 here at First Pres! Click here for the details! FAMILY REGISTRATION is now OPEN. You won’t want to miss out!
FAITH FOUNDATIONS
Join us for Faith Foundations on Sundays at 10 AM! Please see our group listings below. Social distancing measures are in place and each room will have a safe capacity listed on the door. Pastor Kory’s group on Genesis and Steve Wood’s sermon discussions will be livestreamed at 10 AM each Sunday – you may join the Facebook groups using the links on this page. Additionally, if you are continuing to worship from home, the Faith Foundations for Kids lesson will be posted online each week HERE (password: fpcos).
FAITH FOUNDATIONS FOR KIDS
Ages 3-K – Room 103
1st-3rd Grade – Room 305
4th-6th Grade – Room 302
FAITH FOUNDATIONS FOR YOUTH
7th-10th Grade – Harbor House (11th & 12th graders are encouraged to participate in an adult group)
FAITH FOUNDATIONS FOR ADULTS
PRAYER led by Elder Gregg Bray – Chapel
SERMON DISCUSSION led by Steve Wood – Room 201
GENESIS led by Pastor Kory Duncan – Room 202
COMMONS IN THE COURTYARD – outdoor fellowship time
ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICE ARCHIVE
Use the navigation in the video player below to browse through our archive of full worship services since mid-March 2020.
WALKING IN THE WORD
Many people ask: How do I get to know Christ? How do I get to know the will of God? The answer: read the Word! God’s Word is a treasure book for all people. John Piper states, “From Genesis to Revelation, God’s words and God’s deeds reveal God himself for our knowledge and our enjoyment.”
During April, we will be walking through the books of James, Peter, John, and Jude. This one-month self-study will guide us as we read and meditate on God’s word. James tells us what it means to be a Christian. 1 Peter addresses external issues of persecution, while 2 Peter addresses internal issues of false teachings. 1 John talks of the marks of a true Christian. 2 John tells Christians to love one another and 3 John, written to Diorephes, to love his brothers. Enjoy these books this month.
FRONT PORCH DEVOTIONALS WITH STEVE WOOD
CARING FOR OUR CHURCH AND COMMUNITY
Welcome to First Pres!
First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs is one of the many places where God’s great work is evident. We’re located in historic Ocean Springs, MS, and you’ll find a welcoming Christ-centered community of every generation when you walk through our doors. Come see why so many call First Pres home.
OUR MISSION IS TO KNOW CHRIST AND TO MAKE CHRIST KNOWN TOGETHER.